Coaxial connector with plunger

Abstract

An electrical connector for use with coaxial cables includes a plunger urged to protrude from a case by a spring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
 a connector body including a center pin for receiving a male connector center conductor; 
 a spring that surrounds and is spaced apart from an insulated portion of the center pin; 
 opposed first and second spring ends, the first spring end supported by a spring base affixed to the connector body and the second spring end urging a plunger to protrude from a connector body mouth at a connector body first end; 
 a central plane perpendicular to a connector body longitudinal axis, the central plane located midway between the connector body first end and an opposed connector body second end; 
 the spring base located between the connector body first end and the central plane; 
 when the connector is not mated, the plunger and a cap extend from the connector body mouth, the spring is expanded, and the center pin is shielded from extraneous signals; and, 
 when the connector is mated, the center pin receives the male connector center conductor, the spring is compressed, and the plunger is moved toward the connector body second end. 
 
     
     
       2. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 1  further including:
 a plunger flange located about midway between opposed plunger ends; 
 the cap abuts the plunger flange; and, 
 a protruding nose formed by the cap and the plunger. 
 
     
     
       3. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a cap aperture for receiving the center conductor of a male connector; and, 
 the cap aperture large enough to allow insertion of the male connector center conductor and small enough to mask the center conductor from extraneous radio frequency signals. 
 
     
     
       4. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 2  wherein the cap aperture has a minimum diameter that is 2 to 4 times a diameter of the male connector center conductor. 
     
     
       5. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 4  wherein the cap is an electrical conductor. 
     
     
       6. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 1  wherein the plunger passes through the spring base when the connector is mated with a male connector. 
     
     
       7. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 2  further comprising a center conductor entryway providing access to the center pin, the center conductor entryway including an aperture in the cap having a diameter about equal to that of an aperture in the plunger. 
     
     
       8. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 7  wherein the plunger slides along the center conductor when the spring is compressed. 
     
     
       9. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 7  wherein the plunger is an electrical insulator. 
     
     
       10. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the spring inserted in the plunger; and 
 the spring surrounding an insulator that is fixed with respect to the center conductor. 
 
     
     
       11. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 10  further comprising:
 raised surfaces on a plunger face; 
 a mask fitted to the plunger face; and, 
 the raised surfaces protruding from openings in the mask. 
 
     
     
       12. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a mask skirt that encircles the plunger. 
 
     
     
       13. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 12  wherein the mask is not an electrical conductor. 
     
     
       14. The coaxial cable connector of  claim 13  wherein the plunger is an electrical conductor.